How do I connect Chromecast with Connectify Hotspot?

Chromecast is Google's Wi-Fi media streaming device that plugs into the HDMI port on your TV. It requires an initial setup and then you’re ready to go. If you’re travelling to several places during your vacation or business trip, you’ll have to run that initial setup in each location, because the WiFi network that’ll be available will be a different one.

Connectify Hotspot helps you connect and save time by acting as the “middle man” between any type of Internet connection and your Chromecast device, so you only get to run the setup once and then use the media streaming device in conjunction with your Connectify Hotspot anywhere.

There are two limitations when setting up your Chromecast that you should be aware of:

Google Cast can get confused if it's running on the computer that's running Connectify Hotspot, so you'll have to use your phone or tablet to run their setup utility.

Chromecast's built in Wi-Fi does not support 5 GHz WiFi. If Connectify Hotspot is used to share a Wi-Fi network which is on 5 GHz, then Hotspot shifts to 5 GHz itself. The Hotspot user interface will show a warning, and the Chromecast won't be able to find the network. In all other cases, however, Hotspot will use 2.4 GHz and will work perfectly with the Chromecast.

Here are the steps to set up Chromecast together with Connectify Hotspot:

Connect your Chromecast to the TV and use your phone or tablet to run their setup utility.

In Connectify's Settings tab, configure your hotspot. If you run a "Routed" hotspot, then devices must be connected to your Connectify hotspot to see and use Chromecast. However, if your Internet to Share is an Ethernet or Wi-Fi network, Hotspot MAX users can select "Bridged" to let devices on the shared Wi-Fi network see and control the Chromecast as well. Once you're ready, click 'Start Hotspot'.

Join the Connectify Hotspot with your phone or tablet

Run Google Cast from your phone or tablet.

Follow all the prompts until you get to the WiFi setup screen. Select your Hotspot as your WiFi Network, enter the password for your Hotspot network, and then click the 'Set Network' button.

Your Chromecast should now be connected to Hotspot and you should be ready to cast!

Remember - these steps only have to be done once (you can do that at home, before leaving) if you don’t change the hotspot’s name. Then - at the hotel - just plug the Chromecast into the TV, start the Hotspot by connecting to the available WiFi network and you should be ready to use Chromecast.

Note: One customer has reported that the Chromecast can get stuck so that it does not see the Connectify hotspot. They reported that resetting the Chromecast made it work again.